Her eyes search my face and before they soften. A tongue licks them almost reflexively, and I wish it was me tasting her mouth.
“I promise,” she says in a quiet voice, eyes searching mine as if trying to comprehend something.
Letting go of her and stepping away may be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but somehow I manage.
The door opens and a goth Asian girl with violet eyes enters. The one I’d seen behind the bar. “You okay Goldie? We need you up front.” Her smoky eyes narrow as she regards me. It's either a warning or a threat being directed at me. But she doesn’t need to worry.
Goldie clears her throat with some effort. “Uh yeah.” And then she practically runs out to the bar. I follow behind, nodding politely at the goth girl.
These guys are giving her a problem? I plan to stick around and make sure they don’t.
I’m a bear off the reservation, sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong.
Faelords help anyone who tries to get in my way.
Chapter16
An Indecent Proposal
GOLDIE
I’d been gone less than ten minutes, but I came back to a restless crowd.
“Baby, I missed you.” Alan—or was it Jimi who said it?
There’d been so many new regulars I couldn’t even keep them straight, and remembering names and faces is one of my strong suits.
Slipping back behind the bar, I shoot Alan/Jimi a smile I don’t really mean.
A month ago, I would have been over the moon to get this kind of attention. I would have mentally picked out my wedding dress and named our kids. Within days I would have asked him to clear a drawer for me at his place.
But these last few weeks have felt…wrong. There’s an intensity in his eye, a gleam that has me on edge. I’ve seen it in every man lately.
All except my big, burly and presumptuous neighbor. He still glares and judges.
I was wrong about his eyes being ice. They were never cold. Up close, his eyes are stormy twin seas. They crash into me, dragging me down, drowning me with their pressure and intensity. They smash into me, stealing the breath from my lungs until I am caught in his monsoon. It’s so hard to keep from moving closer into the pull of his innate gravity.
Sleeping with his brother. Ha!
It’s so laughable. I pull Cinder off to the side while I let Snow field my section. Those hungry faces crane over her to watch me.
“Turns out my neighbor still thinks I’m going to fuck his brothers. Can you believe it?” I ask Cinder with an incredulous scoff.
Lysander, who is in earshot, just tips back his beer, minding his own business a little too well.
Cinder doesn’t even blink.
I’ve known this girl long enough to understand every subtle twitch or non-twitch she makes.
“Whoa, that’s rude. I’m hurt.” I cover my chest, trying to soothe my bruised heart.
Cinder shrugs a shoulder. “It’s not crazy for you to end up in some guys’ bed, smitten before you know his last name.”
The truth hurts.
My jaw drops. “You can’t say that to my face.”
Cinder wraps her arm around my shoulders. “I’m theonlyone who can say that to your face. Because I love you and don’t judge.”
